Real People Real Stuff

Web 3.0 site lets people post funny videos for free
to sell their services, sell their stuff, and win video iPods

NORFOLK, VA – (May 14, 2007) – “If YouTube and Craigslist had a baby, the offspring might be Realpeoplerealstuff.com,” wrote The Virginian-Pilot on May 2. The new website launched the day before, combining the ever-growing popularity of online video with the practicality of classified ads.

“YouTube made it easy to post funny videos online,” explains Alan Jacobson, one of the site’s creators. “People have responded enthusiastically just for the chance to become famous – without a financial incentive. Craigslist made it easy to make money by selling services and merchandise online, but it has no video capability. Realpeoplerealstuff.com is the only site with both.”

It may also become the only video site to generate substantial profits. Following CraigsList’s revenue model – not YouTube’s which isn’t very profitable according to The New York Times – Realpeoplerealstuff.com will only charge employers and realtors to place their ads. CraigsList makes $50 million a year this way. Otherwise, the service is free to everyone else.

This makes Realpeoplerealstuff the world's first Web 3.0 site, by combining the social networking and multimedia of Web 2.0, with an existing source of advertising revenue. According to partner Janet DeGeorge: “Daily newspapers rake in $20 billion a year on classifieds, but these ads are moving to the Internet and leaving newspapers behind.”

DeGeorge is a leading expert in classified advertising sales. Jacobson is a top newspaper design consultant. Three other seasoned pros specialize in online technology and marketing.

“As a team, we have all the bases covered: Advertising, marketing, sales, design and web usability. It’s a powerful combination” says Jacobson.

Their lawyers agree – an application for U.S. and international patents has already been filed for their uniquely cost-efficient video delivery system and their first-of-its-kind way of doing business – what the U.S. Patent Office calls a "business method," such as those owned by Amazon.com and Monster. com. In addition, the company is aggressively promoting the site in print, on TV and radio, and online.

If Jacobson and DeGeorge are right, they may have discovered the Holy Grail of Online – advertising revenue – and the world just may have a whole new way to buy and sell their services and their stuff.